Unloading apparatus



June 9; 1931.

A. GUILLE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29, 1927 3 Sheets5heet 2 A. L, GUAILLE 1,809,200

UNLOADING APPARATUS June 9, 1931.

Filed Nov. 29,1927 5 Sheets-Shet 3 gummy.M"

avweutoz UMXM tically adjusted by a screw 13. Each block 12 is provided with a stub shaft 14 rotatably supporting a wheel 15 by means of which the apparatus may be moved from place to place, and by means of which the adjacent end of the apparatus may be supported when in operative position.

The frame is provided with a suitable housing 16 in which any suitable source'of power (not shown)- may be mounted, such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. If an internal combustion engine is employed, a suitable radiator 17 for the cooling system thereof may be employed. The

power source is provided with a power'takeofi shaft 18 arranged outwardly of the housing 16 and suitable means may be connected between this shaft and the operating elements of the apparatus to be described, to furnish drive 'means for the latter. In the present instance .the shaft 18 isshown, as being provided with a sprocket 19 about which the chain 20 passes, the lower end of the chain also passing around a lowerand preferably larger sprocket wheel 21 to provide speed reducing means' A clutch 22, operable by a suitable lever 23, is adapted to operatively connectthe sprocket v21 to a shaft 24 upon which is mounteda gear 25. This gear meshes with a larger gear 26 mounted upon a shaft 27 andla pinion 28 also is mounted upon this shaft. A gear 29 mounted upon a shaft3O meshes with the pinion 28 to be driven thereby, and the shaft 30 carries a sprocket 31 aboutwhich passes a chain 32.: r

A pair of sidechannel members indicated asa whole by the numeral 33 issupported at opposite sides of the frame 10 andis in- ,clined downwardly toward one end as shown in Figure 1. Each channel memberv includes a side base portion 34 and upper and lower flanges 35 and'36, these flanges curving adjacent theirlower ends and terminating subapparent.

stantially horizontally for apurpose to be described. Substantially vertical side guide plates 37 extend upwardly from the channels 33 and pass throughthe frame 10, as will be Referring to Figiire 5, the numeral designates an endless conveyor as a whole which maybe of any suitable type, for accomplishingthe desired results, as will become a, parent. In the present instance, the conveyor is illustrated as comprising'an endless link-belt 39, and for a purpose to be described, one or more joints of the belt is adapted to be disconnected. The belt is preferably pro- .vided with a plurality of overlapping transverseflights 4Ohaving upwardly projecting j 1 portions, as shown in Figure 5, to engage and move 'thematerial to be unloaded. The upper and lower runs of the conveyor, intermediate its ends, pass over and under a sprocket wheel 41wh1chiengages the links of the belt 39. Thesprocket wheel is mounted upon a shaft 42 journalled in the channels 33. Bearings 43 are mounted beneath the channels 33 adjacent their upper ends and rotatably support a shaft 44 carrying a wheel 45 similar to the wheel 41 previously described. The chain 39 also passes around the wheel 45, as will be apparent, and the upper run of the conveyor between the wheels 41 and 45 contacts with the lower faces of the flanges 35 to. be guided thereby. Portions, at least, of the conveyor are or may be supported upon the upper faces of the flanges 36, as will be apparent. 1

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the numeral 46 designates a pair of supports in the form of channels which extend transversely of the rails 47 upon which the car to be unloaded is arranged. The supports 46 include side bases 47, and upper and lower inwardly extending flanges 48 and 49, each support being extended upwardly beyond the flange 48 thereof to form a uide flan e50 for a urpose to be described. Rollers 51 are arranged between the supports 46 and'are provided at their ends with stub shafts 52 journalled in the bases 47. These rollers obviously extend transversely of the conveyor 38,

and support the latter between the rails 47",

and during its passage beneath the hopper 53 of. a coal or similar car supported on the rails 47. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the supports 46 in position, and in Figure 4 of the drawings these elements have been shown as being provided with overhanging extensions 46 adapted to rest upon the rails 47.

' A pair of extensions or connecting members 54 1s arranged beneath the ra1ls47, as shown nFlgures 1 and 3, and these extensions may be. formed integral with, or separate from, the channels The extensions 54 themselves, may be formed as channels, if desired, as shown in Figure 3, and serve as guiding and' supporting means for the lower run of the conveyor 38in its travel beneath the. rails. In connection with the extensions 54, andthe lower run of the conveyor, it will be noted that the rails 47 are arranged upon suitable ties 55. only one of which need be removed to permit the insertion of the extensions 54. Theties of most railroad sidings lie upon the surface of the surrounding ground, thus making it very easy to place the extensions 54 in position. In cases where the ties are embedded in the ground, it merely is necessary temporarily to dig a shallow trench to permit the elements referred to to be inserted beneath the rails.

A pair of. channels 56 is arranged beyond the outer rail 47", each channel 56 being connected toor formed integral with one of the extensions 54. Each channel 56 includes a side base 57 and upper and lower flanges 58 and 59, the upper flange being provided with a vertical. flange similar to the flange 50 prewith each block -viously described (see Figure 3) andarranged in .alinement. therewith. Each side base 57 is provided with a longitudinal slot 60 in which is slidably arranged a bearing block 61, and atransve-rse shaft 62 is jours scribed, is preferably arranged adjacent the outer rail 47 and is journalled between the channels 56. portingmeans forthe upper runof the conveyor. If desired, small wheels 67 maybe I carried by the outer ends of the channels56 I ofthe apparatus beneath the rails.

to facilitate inserting .the horizontal portion When a conveyor of the type described passes beneath adischarge hopper ofa coal or similar'car, itordinarily is necessary for portions of the material to be conveyed entirely across the width. of'the hopper, thus resulting in breakage of the material .and often damaging the conveyor. In the present instance,a plate 68 is supportedon the.

flanges/l8 and 58and isguided between thefianges of the supports 46 and the corresponding flanges of the channels 56. This plate is slidable and normally occupies the position shown inFigureit wherebythe material in the hopper will be fed from only one side thereof to the conveyor, at a-"point where the latter passes from. beneath the hopper, and thus it will be' apparent thatthe necessityfor conveyingthe material entirely across the hopper is obviated. Of course, as the car becomes emptied, the plate 68 may be moved outwardly to release the material.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, is substantially the same as that previously described, and need not be referred to. in detail. In place of the rollers 51 and their supports, a transverse plate 69 may be placed upon the rail 47', n the tremities of theplate are-preferably turned downwardly asat 70 to prevent the conveyor fromcontacting with the ends of theplate.

. This plate is adapted tosupport the conveyor during its travel beneath the hopper and is preferably polished to reduce friction. The

, plate 69 maybe provided 'at itsedgcswith upstanding iflanges 71-terminating in upper inwardly extendingihoriz'ontal flanges" 72,

each flange 71 being provided, with anfupa wardly extending portion 73 serving to guide the plate 68 previously described. .Inplace of the conveyor :38 previously described,a belt conveyor 74 may be employed, and may .be connectedat its edges to endless chains 7 5. Cleats 76, i or other outwardly projecting The roller 66 also acts as :sup

as will .be apparent.

members may be connected to the belt-74 at spaced intervals. v p f' The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

As previously stated,.one or morelinksiof the conveyor 88'1nay be disconnected to per-.' 'mit the belt to. be placed around the rails -47,as sliownin Figure 1." :-With the belt thus disconnected, the horizontal elements of the apparatus including the extensionsfet and channels 5 6 and the elements carriedthere by, may be inserted beneath the rails: It ordinarily is necessary to remove one of the "ties 55 and it also may be'necessary temporarily to, dig a shallowtrench to permit the insertion ofv the elements referred to.

After the elements are 1n pos1t1on,-any trench which it was found necessary to excavate, may be.

filled to the normallevel of the'earth. The p wheels 67 are adapted to'facilitate the placing ofthe parts in position. After a car is arranged in position to be unloaded, the supports 46 are placedin position onthe rails,

being supported thereon by the overhanging projections 46. The rollers 51 are carried are moved onthe rails until they are in alinement with the channels 33 and56. The ends of the conveyor are then brought together and secured to each other, whereupon the plate 68 may be arranged beneath the hopper jto govern'the flowof materialtherefrom in the mannerreferred to. The screws. 63 may be operated properly totensionthe conveyor,

The apparatus is then ready for operation;

- As'pleviously stated, anysuitable-source of power may be employed for operating the apparatus. such as an electric motor .or-ine" Power'is tra'ns- Initted from the source to the chain 20. 7 "through shaft 18 and sprocket 19, the

ternal combustion engine.

chain servingto drive the'sprocket 21 which may be connected to the shaft 24 by operating the clutch lever 23.

Thus power may bedelivercd to the shaft e loff the conveyor through the gear train and through thechain 32 and its associated sprocket Wheels. Rota- 1 tion' oftheshaft 4:4 drives the conveyor in the direction of the arrowshown in Figure 2,. the

upper run of tl1e-conveyormoving toward the channels33. The conveyor is supported during this movement between the railsby the ro1lers"51', and contacts with the flanges .35 to be guided thereby as it travels between l the. channels 33. The flights 40 pick up the coal or other materialdischargedfrom the r hopper between the inneri side thereof, and the adjacent end of the plate 68, and the material' thus will b'e conveyed outwardlyand upwardly. betweenthe plates 37 which pre vent the m aterialfrom spilling'from thesides of the conveyor. At the upper end of "the; conveyor, the material may be discharged I into a vehicle, upon a second conveyor of any 90 by the supports 46, and the latter elements desired'type, or otherwise may be disposed of as desired. The lower run of the conveyor will be supported between the flanges ot' the extensions 59; and upon the lower flanges 59 of the chanuels fiti.

' :The operation of the form of the apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7 is substantially the same as the operation just described. In place of the supports 46 and rollers 51, the plate Gamay be employed, the conveyor bcing adapted to slide over the plate in its travel beneath the hopper. The projections or cleats 76 serve to engage the material and as sist innroving it with the conveyor.

After the carihas been completely unloaded, operation of the apparatus may be stopped, and two adjacent sets of the links of the conveyor are disconnected, ireferably in the top run'of the conveyor inwardly of the hopper, and the outer free end of the chain is withdrawnfrom beneath the hopper and from its position above the rails. It is necessary of course, to remove the plates 68 to disconnect the conveyor, and after the conveyor has been removed "from its position above the rails, the supports 46 and their associated rollers may be removed. The car then may be withdrawn "from the siding and a full car placed in position whereupon the parts of the apparatus may be restored to their normal positions whereupon the apthe uselof a conveyor properly designed to convey heavy material, and ample clearance i s provided-to permit the apparatus properly to operate even when the hoppers or their doors have become bent or distorted. It is not necessary to provide a permanent pit be neath the apparatus, and thus it Will be apparent that the objections .to the use of a pit are fully elii'ninated.

I It is t-o be understood that the forms ofthe invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changesin the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to ithout departing from the spirit of the in- ,veution or the scope of the subjoined claims.

portions to permit it to be removed from above the rails, a pair of spaced supports extending transversely of the rails and resting thereon, and a plurality of rollers journalled at their ends in said supports and adapted to support the upper run of the conveyor for movement across the rails, said rollers being arranged at least partially below the plane of the tops of the rails.

Q. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of beams adapted to be an ranged on each side of a pair of vehicle rails detachable means'itor supporting the upper run of the conveyor for movement across the rails. V

3. Apparatus constructed in accordance .with claim 2- wherein said detachable means comprises a support having end portions overhanging and adapted to rest upon the rails to be supported thereby.

4. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein said detachable means comprises a pair of transverse supports having end portions overhanging and adapted to rest upon the rails to be supported thereby, and rollers journalled between said transverse supports and over which the upper run of said conveyor is adapted to travel.

5. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein said detachable means comprises a pair of transverse supports having end portions overhanging and adapted to rest upon the rails to be supported thereby,

and rollers journalled between said transverse supports and over wh1ch the upper run of said conveyor is adapted to travel, said supports being provided at their upper edges with channels through which the edge portionsof the upper run of saidconveyor are adapted to travel.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of beams adapted to be arranged on each side of a pair of vehicle rails and extending transversely thereof, extensions arranged beneath the rails and connecting said beams, sprockets rotatably supported between said beams, an endless conveyor passing over said sprockets, the upper and lower runs of said conveyor between said sprockets being arranged respectively above and below the rails, the upper run of the conveyor be ing adapted to receive material discharged from a hopper of a car arranged on the rails,

said conveyor having detachable portions to permit it to be removed from above the rails,

detachable means for supporting the upper run of the conveyor for movement across the rails, said detachable means including guides in which the edge portions of the upper run of said conveyor are adapted to travel, and

guides carried by said extensions and in which the edge portions of the lower run of said conveyor are adapted to travel.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising an endless conveyor having a substantially horizontal portion the upper and lower runs of which are adapted to be arranged respectively above and below a pair of vehicle rails the upper run ofthe con- 7 veyor being adapted to receive material discharged from a hopper of a car arranged on the rails, said conveyor havingv detachable portions to permit it to be removed from above the rails and means carried by the rails A I and detachable therefrom for supporting the upper run of the conveyor for movement across the rails substantially parallel to the r plane of the tops thereof, said means including a plurality of supporting rollers arranged at least partially belowthe plane of'the tops r of the rails. v

I In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

[ARTHUR L. GUILLE. 

